When Polar Bear Shores opened, it was home to 2 Polar Bears.
One was an energetic 4-year-old male, who was on a breeding loan from Beijing Zoo. The other was a 16-year-old Female from Arizona, who has had 3 unsuccessful litters in the past, and was brought out in the hope that she would successfully breed with her young new playmate.
Ping Ping: the 4 (now 5, nearly 6) years old bear is the bear from Beijing. He is easily the more adventurous of the two bears, exploring his new home with great enthusiasm.
He is expected to stay at Seaworld until sometime in 2003, which will hopefully be after breeding with Kanook. He recently underwent a tooth canal operation, which was performed by veterinary surgeons from Taronga Park Zoo.
Kanook: Is a 16-year-old bear from Arizona. In the past, she has been unsuccessful in breeding, with all of her cubs unfortunately, not surviving. Kanook has spent the past few years of her life at Arizona on her own, and now enjoys having another bear around.
When she was living on her own, she was in some degree of stress, but since moving to Seaworld, she has shown no signs of stress, and within six short months of her arrival, she showed no sign that she was under any stress.
It's hoped that in Polar Bear Shores, she will find it allot more comfortable, and will have more luck in breeding. Well so far, the first part has gone according to plan, now we just need to see if she can learn how to be a mother.
Check out photos of the bears here |
